Students given opportunity to debate climate issues at COP-style event

24/10/24
Almost 100 year 8 and 9 students from schools across Babergh and Mid Suffolk will take part in a COP-style event next month.

Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils' Schools Green Skills Summit will take place on 15 November.

It will see just over 90 year 8 and 9 students from across 10 schools in Babergh and Mid Suffolk, take part in a COP-style event. The students will represent 16 nations, as at COP29 in Azerbaijan later this year, debating real-world climate change challenges and emulating real-life negotiations.

The aim is to engage young people from a wide variety of socio-economic backgrounds about climate change and its effects. 

The hope is to open up opportunities for local action and sustainable career choices for the next generation, following on from this year's Green Careers Week 2024 (4 - 9 November).

The event will be facilitated by InterClimate Network, and hosted by Ipswich High School.

Schools taking part are:

  • Hadleigh High School
  • Royal Hospital School
  • Stour Valley Community School
  • Thomas Gainsborough School
  • Ipswich High School
  • East Bergholt High School
  • Debenham High School
  • Finborough School
  • Stowmarket High School
  • Thurston Community College

Students will also be encouraged to think about the local action they and their schools can take to help tackle the climate crisis and get towards net zero.

There will be the chance to ask several Q&A panel members questions and explore the stalls of climate-focused organisations as part of a mini green skills careers fair.

The Q&A panel members include:

  • Cllr Deborah Saw (Babergh District Council - acting leader)
  • Cllr Andrew Mellen (Mid Suffolk District Council - leader)
  • Eastern Education Group
  • Morgan Sindall
  • Freeport East
  • Muntons
  • Suffolk Sustainable Schools Network (part of Suffolk County Council)

Stallholders include:

  • Suffolk Sustainable Schools Network (part of Suffolk County Council)
  • Eastern Education Group 
  • Morgan Sindall
  • Freeport East
  • Muntons
  • University of Suffolk
  • Suffolk New College
  • Denny Bros
  • Central Suffolk Community Energy
  • Food Savvy Suffolk
  • 360 Sustainability
  • Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Council's waste team

The event has been fully and generously sponsored by:

  • Suffolk Sustainable Schools Network (part of Suffolk County Council)
  • Eastern Education Group
  • Morgan Sindall
  • Freeport East
  • Muntons
  • University of Suffolk
  • Denny Bros
  • IHI LTD
Cllr Helen Davies, cabinet member for climate change, nature recovery and biodiversity at Babergh District Council, said:

“Putting on an event like this is testament to our wider commitment to tackling climate change in Suffolk.

"We hope that by giving our younger residents the opportunity to experience a real-life climate debate will encourage them to take local action and plant the seed for future green skills careers.”
Cllr Tim Weller, cabinet member for environment, culture and wellbeing at Mid Suffolk District Council, said:

“This is a fantastic opportunity to engage our next generation of residents on climate issues, and give them the skills, tools, and confidence to explore green careers in future.

"We hope they walk away from the event inspired and wanting to take local action at school and in their communities.”
Babergh and Mid Suffolk's Schools Green Skills Summit